You have a Word document that you want to print as a small booklet, like a pamphlet or a program. Word does not have a dedicated booklet layout mode, but you can achieve this using the print settings and page setup options. This article explains how to configure Word to print your document as a booklet using the built-in booklet printing feature and manual duplex printing.
Key Takeaways: Printing a Word Document as a Booklet
- File > Print > Settings > Booklet, side-fold: Configures Word to print pages in the correct order for a folded booklet.
- Layout > Page Setup > Margins > Multiple pages > Book fold: Sets the page orientation and gutter margins for booklet printing.
- Manual duplex printing on a non-duplex printer: Requires printing odd pages first, then reloading the paper to print even pages on the reverse side.
How Word’s Booklet Printing Feature Works
Word’s booklet printing feature rearranges the pages of your document so that when you fold the printed sheets in half, the pages appear in the correct reading order. For example, an 8-page document prints on two sheets of paper: page 1 and page 8 on the same side, page 2 and page 7 on the reverse, and so on. This is called “imposition” in printing.
The feature works by using the Book fold setting in Page Setup. This setting changes the page orientation to landscape and splits each sheet into two logical pages. Word then handles the page ordering automatically when you print. You do not need any third-party software.
Before you start, ensure your document is complete and proofread. Booklet printing works best with documents whose total page count is a multiple of 4. If the page count is not a multiple of 4, Word adds blank pages to make the booklet work.
Steps to Configure Page Setup for Booklet Printing
Follow these steps to set up the document layout for booklet printing.
- Open the Page Setup dialog
In Word, click the Layout tab on the ribbon. Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group to open the full dialog. - Set the Margins tab
In the Page Setup dialog, click the Margins tab. From the Multiple pages drop-down list, select Book fold. The orientation automatically changes to Landscape. Set the Inside margin (the gutter) to a value like 0.5 inches to allow space for binding. - Set the number of pages per booklet
In the Sheets per booklet drop-down, choose how many sheets each booklet should contain. Select All to print the entire document as one booklet. If you want to create smaller booklets from a larger document, choose a specific number like 10 or 20. - Apply the settings
Click OK to close the dialog. You will see that the document view changes to landscape with two pages side by side. This is normal — Word is showing how the pages will look when printed.
Steps to Print the Booklet
Once the page setup is configured, use these steps to print the booklet. The method depends on whether your printer supports automatic duplex (two-sided) printing.
If Your Printer Supports Automatic Duplex Printing
- Open the Print dialog
Press Ctrl + P or click File > Print. - Select the printer
Choose your duplex-capable printer from the Printer drop-down list. - Configure booklet printing
Under Settings, click the drop-down that currently shows Print One Sided. Select Print on Both Sides if it is available. Then click the next drop-down (which shows Collated by default) and select Booklet, side-fold. - Print the booklet
Click the Print button. Word will send the pages in the correct imposed order. The printer will print both sides automatically.
If Your Printer Does Not Support Automatic Duplex Printing
You need to print the front sides first, then manually reload the paper to print the reverse sides. Word provides a manual duplex option for this.
- Open the Print dialog
Press Ctrl + P or click File > Print. - Select the printer
Choose your printer from the Printer drop-down list. - Configure manual duplex booklet printing
Under Settings, click the drop-down that shows Print One Sided. Select Manually Print on Both Sides. Then click the next drop-down and select Booklet, side-fold. - Print the front sides
Click the Print button. Word prints all the pages that go on the front of each sheet. A dialog appears asking you to reload the paper. - Reload and print the reverse sides
Take the printed stack from the output tray. Do not rearrange the order. Reload the stack into the paper tray with the blank side facing up (or as your printer instructions specify). Click OK in the Word dialog. Word prints the remaining pages on the reverse side.
Common Issues and Tips for Booklet Printing
Pages Are Out of Order After Printing
If the pages appear scrambled, you likely forgot to select Booklet, side-fold in the Print settings. Without this option, Word prints pages in normal order. Go back to File > Print and ensure Booklet, side-fold is selected. Also verify that the paper reload orientation matches your printer’s requirements for manual duplex.
Text or Images Are Cut Off at the Edges
The booklet format uses landscape orientation with two logical pages per sheet. If your original document was portrait, some content may not fit. Reduce the font size or adjust margins before printing. You can also set a smaller gutter margin in Page Setup > Margins > Inside.
The Document Has an Odd Number of Pages
Booklet printing requires page counts that are multiples of 4. If your document has 19 pages, Word adds one blank page to reach 20. To avoid blank pages, edit your content to have a multiple-of-4 page count. Alternatively, add a blank page at the end manually.
The Booklet Is Too Large to Fold or Staple
If you select All for a 60-page document, the printed stack will be thick and hard to fold. Use the Sheets per booklet setting to break the document into smaller booklets. For example, set it to 10 sheets (20 pages) per booklet. Then print each booklet separately.
Word Desktop vs Word for Web: Booklet Printing Features
| Item | Word Desktop (Windows/Mac) | Word for Web |
|---|---|---|
| Book fold page setup | Available in Layout > Page Setup > Margins > Multiple pages | Not available |
| Booklet print option | Available in File > Print > Settings > Booklet, side-fold | Not available |
| Manual duplex printing | Supported with Manually Print on Both Sides option | Not available |
| Automatic duplex printing | Supported if printer supports it | Not available |
| Preview imposed pages | Yes, in Print Preview | No |
You can now configure a Word document for booklet printing using Page Setup and the Print dialog. For a clean result, always check Print Preview before printing. If you print booklets regularly, consider saving the document as a PDF and using a dedicated booklet imposition tool like Adobe Acrobat’s booklet printing feature for more control over binding and margins.